Acne Agony

Posted At : September 2, 2008 12:49 PM | Posted By : Nora Simmons
Related Categories: Natural Radiance

I had blessedly clear skin until my sophomore year of college. It came on so suddenly and so intensely you’d think a bomb went off sending acne shrapnel directly to my face. It was awful. We’re talking deep cystic acne that start so far below the surface of the skin you can actually feel them on the inside of your cheeks. Yikes! I spent years working with various dermatologists who only seemed to agree on the fact that I suffered from hormonal acne. I tried the Pill, antibiotics and other drugs, creams, washes, even special diets, but nothing solved the problem. One doctor even wanted me to go on birth-defect inducing Acutane! (For the record, I said “Hell No” and stormed out.)

A little over a year ago—about the time I started working at Natural Solutions—I decided to purge my body and my medicine cabinet of the drugs, harsh washes, and chemical creams, gels, and solutions. My skin and my system were fried from so many years of unnatural manipulation. I knew I would still struggle with hormonal acne, but I wanted to find balance naturally. So I went to an Ayurvedic doctor in Boulder—John Douillard, PhD—to help get my menstrual cycle and hopefully my skin back on track. It was amazing. Just three months of working with him and taking herbs and supplements, sticking to three squares a day (which helps stabilize energy and insulin), and drinking plenty of water (Dr. D recommends you sip hot water throughout the day because it absorbs better in the body than cold), my never before regular cycle was (almost) like clockwork and my skin was (almost) clear as crystal.

We all get acne for different reasons, which is why I love “In the Clear” in this month’s issue of Natural Solutions. It takes you through different causes and remedies for all kinds of adult acne. My favorite tip: Exercise boosts your body’s acne fighting response by enabling sex hormone-binding globulin to take oil-producing testosterone out of action. My second favorite: foods high in B6 (like avocados, eggs, and oily fish) reduce your body’s sensitivity to hormones. So all I have to do is go run around in the mountains and then come home and eat grilled salmon with guacamole? Not a bad prescription! If it were only that simple… But at least it helps.

What were your favorite tips from the article? Any other natural treatments you’ve tried to combat adult acne woes?

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As a father, i've tried to help my kids with they're acne, because I know first hand how hard it can be. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to overcome mine. Even now at 43, i still have problems with acne. I've been trying for so long, that i've tried pretty much everything, including natural remedies and even homeopathic remedies. No luck.

I recently read on http://campusacnetruth.org/ that the difficulty could lie in the fact that acne affects men and women in different ways.

Because guys' skin is thicker and has more DHT and because of the differences in hormones, this information would suggest that there should be gender-specific treatments. Thus far, I have failed to find any.

Has anyone else heard such information or come across a gender-specific acne medication?

# Posted By Jaime | 9/14/08 8:15 PM

I am just like Nora. In my mid-twenties I started having Acne in a way that I had never experienced as a teenager. It was nerve racking! I loved the article and it make me go through all of my lotions, etc and toss them out! I loved to lemon/egg white face mask. The whole acticle was the information that I was looking for. I am sure it was helpful to many other adults who suffer like we do!

# Posted By Kelly | 9/18/08 2:27 PM

i have chronic acne and have had throughout my life. I just discovered sensitivity to gluten or wheat products. it is the root of many, many disorders. try eliminating gluten from your diet for one month and you will probably be shocked at the results. also read up on gluten intolerance. you will be surprised at what you find.

thanks

# Posted By janice | 9/25/08 9:43 AM

Thanks Janice! That is good advice and I will definitely try it!

# Posted By Kelly | 9/25/08 3:06 PM

Have you tried teatree oil for acnee? There is a roll-on that works wonders
for my 17 yrs. It's made by a local reflexologist.

# Posted By Issita | 10/24/08 5:28 PM

Thank's for sharng! I have hormonal acne and your article is very useful for me!

# Posted By Raffaella | 10/31/08 4:52 AM

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